Happy New Year, PA! Have you made resolutions for 2020? We, Pennsylvanians, all have our own New Year traditions – from eating the traditional pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day to digging deeper into our pockets for another PA Turnpike toll increase of six percent. (We’ll have that New Year’s tradition through 2044.) We also have several new laws in Pennsylvania that will go into effect in 2020.
- Anyone can vote by mail
Flickr/Robert Stinnett Voters will see several new changes when heading to the polls in 2020. If you have trouble making it to the polls, which will have longer hours beginning this year, you can now request a mail-in ballot. Voters will no longer need to provide an excuse as to why they can’t make it to the polling station. Even better? You can request that your name be placed on a list to have a mail-in ballot sent to you every election. If you opt for vote by mail, however, you must have your ballot turned within 50 days of Election Day.
- You have longer to register to vote
Flickr/Kristin Ausk While voters are encouraged to register to vote as soon as possible when moving to PA, voters now have more time to register to vote. Previously, you must have registered within 30 days of Election Day. Now, you must register at least 15 days prior to Election Day.
- Smoking age increases to 21
Flickr/Ron Cruz Smokers and vapers will now have to be 21, instead of 18, to purchase cigarettes and other smoking/vaping products in Pennsylvania. The new law will go into effect in July.
- Firefighters can now train online
Flickr/FaceMePLS The new law, based on Senate Bill 146, will allow firefighters to do some of their training online. The bill is set to go into effect in the early part of 2020.
- National Guard members will receive education assistance
Wikipedia/Public Domain Eligible National Guard members can receive up to five years of free tuition at state schools while their families – including spouses and children – may be eligible to receive discounted tuition at Pennsylvania schools.
- Three Sundays will be added to hunting season
Flickr/LucenteDesigns Hunters will now have the opportunity to hunt on three Sundays during hunting season. However, those dates have yet to be determined. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will designate one of the Sundays while Governor Tom Wolf will choose the other two.
- Drivers must only drive vehicles they have a license to drive
Flickr/Pennsylvania National Guard All Pennsylvania drivers, of course, must have a driver’s license to operate a vehicle. However, we can apply for a license in different categories – such as the most common Class C. If you want to drive a motorcycle, for example, you must have a Class M license. A new law institutes a fine of up to $200 for drivers found driving a vehicle they’re not licensed to drive.
What do you think of the new laws in Pennsylvania for 2020? Do you agree with them or no? Let us know in the comments! Did you know that PA has some really, well, weird laws, too? Yep, here are 10 laws we all might have broken at least once.
Flickr/Robert Stinnett
Voters will see several new changes when heading to the polls in 2020. If you have trouble making it to the polls, which will have longer hours beginning this year, you can now request a mail-in ballot. Voters will no longer need to provide an excuse as to why they can’t make it to the polling station. Even better? You can request that your name be placed on a list to have a mail-in ballot sent to you every election. If you opt for vote by mail, however, you must have your ballot turned within 50 days of Election Day.
Flickr/Kristin Ausk
While voters are encouraged to register to vote as soon as possible when moving to PA, voters now have more time to register to vote. Previously, you must have registered within 30 days of Election Day. Now, you must register at least 15 days prior to Election Day.
Flickr/Ron Cruz
Smokers and vapers will now have to be 21, instead of 18, to purchase cigarettes and other smoking/vaping products in Pennsylvania. The new law will go into effect in July.
Flickr/FaceMePLS
The new law, based on Senate Bill 146, will allow firefighters to do some of their training online. The bill is set to go into effect in the early part of 2020.
Wikipedia/Public Domain
Eligible National Guard members can receive up to five years of free tuition at state schools while their families – including spouses and children – may be eligible to receive discounted tuition at Pennsylvania schools.
Flickr/LucenteDesigns
Hunters will now have the opportunity to hunt on three Sundays during hunting season. However, those dates have yet to be determined. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will designate one of the Sundays while Governor Tom Wolf will choose the other two.
Flickr/Pennsylvania National Guard
All Pennsylvania drivers, of course, must have a driver’s license to operate a vehicle. However, we can apply for a license in different categories – such as the most common Class C. If you want to drive a motorcycle, for example, you must have a Class M license. A new law institutes a fine of up to $200 for drivers found driving a vehicle they’re not licensed to drive.
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